Chilean folk name.

Body low-growing in clusters, with shortly cylindrical Opuntia-like stem segments, potentially forming a mound. Leaves small, fleshy, green, cylindrical, about 5 mm long. Areoles woolly with 3-4 spines the central one to 3 cm long. Flowers diurnal, at the body apex, to 3 cm long, yellow or white. Fruit fleshy with leaf-like scales.

Chilean folk name.

Grown as the species M. poeppigii (Pfeiff.) K. Schum. from S Chile.

Stems cylindrical; fleshy, persistent cylindrical leaves to 5 mm or so long.

Possibly 2 species from S Argentina and S Chile (Patagonia).

Source: Thompson, A, ; Forbes, S.; Spencer, R. (1997). Cactaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.